Erland



No, 752,809. PATBNTBD PEB. z3, 1.904. M. E. SUTHERLAND.

RIFLE SIGHT.

APPLIUATION FILED JU'm; 7, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

N0 MODEL.

. Inventor, Mu nZZZ/eTZw/d/ Witnesses:

Attorneys Tur, Nnms Firms ca, PHmQu'rno.. wAsmNGYoN. n, c.

N0.4752,809. PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904. M. E. SUTHBRLA-ND. RIFLE SIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY '7. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

2 $HEETS-SHBET 2.

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ma Nonms Pzrsns co., PHoTo-LlTl-lmwAsmNmcN D c vUNITED STATS Patented February 23, 1904.

PATENT @Finca o MURDocK EVETT SUTHERLAND, or wEsTvILLE, CANADA.

v SPEC'.[]5I(.`11L'.T.IONv forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,809, dated February 23, 1904.

i Application ined my 7,1902. serial No. 114,684. (Nomodei.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MURDocK Evn'r'r SUTH` IERLAND, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain, residing at Westville, county of Pictou, Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, have invented, certain new and useful, Improvements in Bille-Sights; and I do herebydeclare that the following is afull', clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an Vimproved back sight or riflefsight especially adapted for mili-g tary rifie's. n o v t The object .of myd invention is ,to provide a sight of the leaf pattern which shall be of very much increased accuracy Vand adjustabi'lity over all leaf-sights vat present in use; to dispense with the use of all detachable sighting appurtenances; to supply a continuously-ad-` justable sighting-point which may be ,exactly set in 'position for `any range whatever by the i use of ainely-graduated Vernier; to provide a perfect wind-gage which is sograduated as to be adjustable to any strength of Wind and over anydesirable range; to provide an alterf native sightingfpoint either in the for'rnof the intersection of a line and a straight edge or on a V-shaped groove, as may be desired, without any other change but a slight movement lof n one of the parts .without altering the setting of therinstrument; to provide asight which may be readily attached to any "rifle now in use without any alterationvtherein and which will occupyl no more room orA space Ion the top of the barrel than that now occupied, and in general to improve the construction and col-y i location of the parts in such manner'as to pro- `duce a compact andthoroughly practical sight which shall stand all tests of use. n i A special object of my inventionin connec- I tion with they abovev is to provide'means not only vfornsetting, the sight to an eXtreme del gree of accuracy bythe use 'of the Vernier above referred to, butalso to permit the instrument to be quickly and roughly set by hand independently of the Vernier and tangent screw in cases where there is not time enough to permit of a great adjustment of accuracy.

ed out.

To these and'other endsmy invention contransverse sighting-bar, which is moved up and down by a Vertical tangent-screw and is set in place by'a`V scaleand Vernier formed on one endof the bar. In the center of this bar is a V-notch for ordinary sighting,`an`d this sighting-bar may be moved'up anddown by turning the tangent-screw-A I providetwo scales upon the said 'rectangular plate, one upon the edge and theother upon the face thereof, which may beused in setting the sighting-bar, according to differenty conditions. 'The upper end of the rectangular plateis open, and the'two limbs thereof are' joined by a sightingblock, which has two V-'notches at'right ane gles with eachother, so thatthese also may be used in sightingat very long or vVery short 1 ranges, according as the plate is turned upright or horizontal on its bed.

My invention further 4consists in providing upon the said sighting-bar a slidingwindgage, which is formed, preferably, of blued steel, having set therein and at right angles to the horizontal edges thereof a fine platinum wire, so as to form a whitel sighting-line on a black background, and this 'wind-gage' may be moved back and forth and adjusted to various positions at either si'deof v the cen-ter of the sighting-bar by means'of ascale arranged adjacent to it for that purpose.

My invention further consists inthe peculiar connection between the sighting-bar and tangent or Vernier screw, which moves it up and down, this being by means of a threaded bushing or nut, which makes a detachable connection with the sightingfbar itself and fits into a socket therein and is lield in place' by' a set? screw, also of peculiar `fori'n",when' it is de# sired to use the tangent-screw as an adjusting means; but at other times the said sightingbar is loosened from the said bushing or nut IOO and is free to slide up and down on the rectangular plate independently of the tangentscrew.

My invention further resides in the particular combination and construction of parts hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying this specilication I have illustrated the most improved form of my new riie-sight, and herein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sight as mounted in position for use on a gun-barrel. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical central section through the sight and gun-barrel. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the rectangular plate constituting the sighting means and the attachments mounted thereon. Fig. 4 is a side'elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3 from the left side. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same from the right side, showing the slidable sighting-bar as detached from the vernierscrew. Fig.` 6 is a front elevation of the sighting-plate by itself, a small portion thereof being shown in section. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the block which joins the upper ends of the sighting-plate. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the Vernier-screw, the parts thereof being shown separated. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the head of the Vernier-screw. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the Vernier-screw nut. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the sighting-bar. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 13 is a transverse section of the sightingbar, showing the wind-gage mounted thereon and taken on the line 13 13 of Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the wind-gage from the rear side. Fig. 15 is a central vertical section taken on the line 15 15 of Fig. 11 to show the internal construction and coperation of the Vernier-screw nut, the sightingbar, and the set-screw thereof. Fig. 16 is a transverse section of the same parts, taken on on the line 16 16 of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a series of detail views of the parts constituting the sighting-bar set-screw. AtA is shown a front view of the head of the set-screw, at B the several parts of the set-screw separated from one another and shown partially in central section, and at C is shown an end view of the inner end or foot-piece of the set-screw. Fig. 18 is a transverse section through the bed of the leaf-sight, taken on the line 18 18 of Fig. 2.

The samenumerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

20 denotes the barrel, and 21 the fore-arm,

. of ariie orfirearm of any desired type and sides, which are used in sighting for shortdistance or point-blank ranges. On the upper side and near the rear end of the sightbed is formed a pair of lugs 25, through which passes a pintle 26, which serves as a pivot for the leaf-plate 27, which has on ,its lower end a perforated lug 28, having a lateral hole 29, through which the pin 26 passes. This plate 27 is thus rotatable about the pinY 26 into either vertical or horizontal position, in one of which it is rigidly held by the upward pressure of the leaf-spring 30, which is preferablydovetailed at its forward end, as shown at 31 in Fig. 18, and set in a dovetailed notch 32 in the rear end of the sight-bed. The hingelug 28 is formed with a square or slightly-inclined rearwardly-projecting toe 33, which is adapted to be seated fiat against the end of the spring 30 when the plate is raised into vertical position, so as to hold it steadily therein. The object of having the lower surface of the lug 28 slightly inclined, as shown, is to cause the plate to assume a position at right angles to the line of sight in sighting for long ranges, in which the barrel is necessarily tilted up at a sensible angle to the horizontal. When the plate 27 is turned down to restupon the bed, it is held against any sidewise movement by parallel lugs 34, which abut against the inner sides of the limbs of the plate and have sloping edges which cooperate with the sighting-bar and scale 24.

The leaf-plate or sighting-plate 27 is formed as shown in Fig. 6, having a central portion entirely cut away, so as to leave the plate with a pair of parallel upstanding limbs and 36, whose upper ends are joined together by a capblock 37, having dovetailed grooves 38 and 39 therein which coact with the dovetailed ends 40 and 41 of the limbs 35 and 36, and the block 37 may be secured to the limbs 35 and 36 by small machine-screws 42, one in each limb.

The plate 27 has extending laterally from its lower edge at the right side a pivot-lug 43, and the cap-block 37 has also a similar pivotlug 44 extending from the right side, and these two lugs have a pair of coaxial pivotholes and 46, in which is rotatably mounted a tangent-screw 47, which has reduced bearing ends 48 and 49, litting in these holes and forming shoulders at the Vends of the screw which exactly span the distance between the opposing faces of the lugs 43 and 44, so that the screw 47 is prevented from endwise motion. The reduced end 49, which passes through the upper lug 44, is prolonged above the latter and has mounted thereover and threaded thereon a milled adjusting-head 50, which is fixed thereon by a small nut 51, screwed upon the projecting end 52 of the reduced portion 49 of the screw. This nut 51 is setiush in a recess 53, formed 'in the upper face of the head 50, being flat and washerlike in form and having an outline as seen in Fig. 9, being circular except for two small log IIE

notches 54 at opposite extremities of a diameter in order to permitthe same to be Kturned uptight in place within its socket, soA as to firmly secure the milled head 50 to the screw and prevent it from binding upon the lug' 44.

The 'sighting-plate' 27 has slidably mounted von the limbs 35 and 36 thereof a sighting-bar 55. (Shown in plan view in Fig. 11 and in perspective in Fig. l2.) This is formed from a single piece of metal-as, for instance, nickel, steel, or German silver-having near one end thereof a slot 56, adapted to lfit around the limb 36, and at the other end a notch 57,

and lower edges at the front side of the barfor the purpose to be hereinafter named, and behind the notch 58 the sighting-bar is cut away in a semicircular groove or recess y61, so as to clear away the metal from around the groove 58 and to permit a clear-cut edge onlyfto bepresented to the eye in sighting. Atits right-hand end this sighting-bar projectsbeyond the limb 36 of the plate 27 to form a lug 62, which is centrally apertured, as at 63, and embraces the tangent-screw 47, while at the other end the bar iswidened and extended upwardly in a toe 64 suficiently to leave room for a Vernier-scale 65, formed on the end of the bar and extending around upon the rectangular edge, as shown at 66. (See Figs. 1, 4, and 12.)`

In order to connect the sighting-bar 55 with the screw 47, there'is provided a small cylindrical nut 67, which is internally threaded, as shown at 68, and may be formed, together with the screw itself, preferably of phosphorbronze, German silver, or other non-rustable metal, so as to prevent the nut and screw from becoming rusted together or otherwise working irregularly. This nut 67 -is of such a size externally as to t neatly and closely within theaperture 63 in the lug 62, and around the waist thereof it is cut away to'forma squared portion 69. (See Figs. 10, 15, and 16.) kThis nut, as well as the aperture 63, has its ends chamfered or cut away, as shown at 70, so as to permit the bar 55 in sliding up and down on the limbs of the plate 27 to pass easily over the nut 67 in o ne direction or the other or to permit the latter to slide readily into -place within the aperture 63, as shown in Figs. 15-

and 16.

Coacting with the squared portion 69 of the nut 67 is a set-screw 71, which has a very steep pitch and is mounted to turn in a threaded boss 72 at one side of the lug 6,2 and radially with the aperture 63. This set-screw is formed in three parts 73, 74, and 75, (shown separated from each other at Fig. 1713,) the main portion 73 having a threaded stem 76 and an enlarged foot 77 at the inner end thereof, which is of the same diameter as the width of the square portion 69 of the nut 67, so as to be screwed up againstone of the faces of the squared portion in the manner shown in Fig. l15, and this foot 77 is preferably concave on its operative face, as shown at 78, and may have a series of spiriform 'corrugations or ribs 79 formed thereon, as shown in the end'view, Fig.'17c,` wherebyto enable the foot ofthe set-screw with a single turn thereof to firmly grip the squared portion'69 of the vnut and prevent it from possibility of turning, while 'not requiring any great torsional strain of the screw, which might otherwise be necessary onaccount of the steep pitchof the threaded shank 73. This screw is of course inserted into the boss 72 from the interior of the aperture 63,' and its outward end is formed with a threaded stud`80, over which is placed the milled head 74, which is held in place by a g small circular nut 75, iitting in the recess 81 of the head 74, so as to be iiush'therewith, and this nut has a pair ofnotches 82 at opposite ends of a diameter, by which it is en abled to be screwed 'up in place by any suitable tool. It is to be observed that the interior of the aperture 63 is recessed `or cut away around the inner end of the set-screw, as shown at 83, so as to permit the screw to be withdrawn out of Vc'ontactwith the nut 67 and permit the latter to pass readily in and out of the aperture 63.

` From the above arrangement it will be seen that the sighting-bar 55 is adapted to be moved freely up and down on the limbs 35 and 36 of the leaf-plate when the set-screw 71 is retracted, in which position it is shown in Fig. 5, the nut 67 being shown independently lower down -on the screw, and this is the condition in which IOO IIO

is set. VVhen,however, an accurate adjustment'` is desired, the sighting-bar is first moved along the screw 47 until it incloses the nut 67 and the ends of the aperture 63 are fiush therewith, whereupon a single turn of the set-screw'71 firmly clamps the sighting-bar thereto, and the whole may now be moved slowly up and down the same by the milled head 50 of the tangent-screw. For setting in this case I provide a finely-divided scale 85 `on the left-hand edge of the plate 27, against which the edge scale66 of the Vernier is adapted to be set. The divisions of the scale 85 may preferably be about one-fifteenth of an inch apart, so that by the aid of the Vernier an accuracy one one- IIS hundred-and-iiftieth of an inch may be readily reached; but the divisions may of course be finer, if desirable.

The instrument as thus far described provides for all vertical or range adjustment; but to provide properly against windage or side drift of the projectile I provide a wind-gage 86, which is in the form shown in perspective in Fig. 14, and this constitutes an important element of my invention. The gage 86 is in the form of a thin T-shaped steel plate having a pair of dovetailed overhanging flanges 87 at the upper and lower sides, which hook into and cooperate with the V-shaped grooves 59 and 60, and on its top and bottom sides the gage is provided with milled or roughened surfaces 88, by which it may be easily slid back and forth on the sighting-bar. The gage is provided with a horizontal tongue 89, the upper edge 9() of which is preferably very slightly above the upper edge of the bar 55, so that when this edge 9() is being used for sighting purposes the edge of the bar 55 does not interfere therewith. The face of the gage is blued by any suitable process, so as to for'm a dark surface, and it has set therein at an intermediate point of the tongue 89 a vertical line 91, formed of platinum wire or other white non-rustable metal, of which there are several different available kinds; butI prefer to use platinum as being wholly unaffected by all atmospheric iniiuences, and thus the sighting-line 91 forms an unalterable white line upon a dark background and is always in condition for use. This line not only provides sighting means across the upper edge of the tongue 90 of the gage, but it also provides sighting means against a scale 92, whose Zeropoint is directly in the center or at the apex of the notch 58 and which is graduated in either direction` therefrom, as shown. The size of the divisions of this scale are such that each division represents a wind-drift of two feet at five hundred yards range; but l may graduate them as fine as desirable, and the gage is set A by simply moving it to either side by means of the milled edges 88 until the line 91 coincides with the proper division on the scale 92. In ordinary use when it is notdesired to 'allow for winclage the gage may be simply pushed aside, as shown in-Fig. 3, so as to be out of the way of the notch 58, or it may be set centrally,as desired, forming an alternative means of sighting, according to whether it is preferred to use the notch or the straight-edge and line sight.

Inasmuch as it may often be desirable to use the cap-block 37 for sighting independently of the sighting-bar 55, I provide the latter with a notch 93 in the center of its upper edge and also a forwardly-projecting beveled lug 94, which has likewise at its center a V- notch 95 for use when the leaf-plate 27 is turned into horizontal position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in order to increase the accuracy of sighting by these notches they are thinned by cutting away the metal in a circular recess or semicylindrical groove 96 at the back of the groove 95 and at the front of the groove 93, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7. In order to prevent the toe 33 from interfering with sighting across the groove 95 when 'the leaf-plate is horizontal, the latter is cut away at yits center, as shown at 97. rIhe cap-block 37 has a groove or recess 98 cut at the left-hand side thereof, which would otherwise interfere with the projecting toe 64C of the sighting-bar and to permit the latter to be moved up to the top of the scale.

From the above description it will be evident that my improved sight possesses a great many advantages not possessed by those heretofore invented. It has all the advantages of the open military leaf-sight, and yet dispenses with the use of all detachable sightingappurtenances and supplies the use of a Vernier graduated to one one-hundred-and-iftieth of an inch. It also supplies a perfect wind-gage which is graduated fine enough for all practical purposes and one which supplies an adjustable sighting-line and dispenses entirely with the use of paint and pencil heretofore necessary for putting on a line, and the sight can be instantly adjusted independently of the Vernier-screw to any elevation or range. It is strong and simple' in construction and is compact, as it can still be made without having it too complicated and delicate to stand the severe tests to which a military rifle is subjected, and it can be attached to any pattern of gun, either military or sporting rifle, or to artillery guns, if desired.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form or position Without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as are included within the scope of the following claims or of mechanical equivalents to the structures set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A back sight for firearms comprising a pivotedI leaf-plate having its central portion cut away to form a pair of parallel upstanding limbs, an integral sighting-bar having ends embracing said limbs and vertically adjustable thereon, said sighting-bar being mounted on said limbs by being pushed down over the free ends thereof, and an independent cap-block connecting the free ends of said limbs.

2. A back sight for firearms comprising a pivoted leaf-plate having its Vcentral portion IIC , out away to form a pair of parallel upstanding limbs, an integral sighting-bar having ends embracing said limbs and vert-ically adjustable thereon, said sighting-barbeing mounted on said limbs by being pushed down over the free ends thereof, an independent cap-block connecting the free ends of said limbs, and dovetailed pins formed on the upper ends of said upstandingflimbs and fitting in correspondingly-shaped recesses in said cap-block, said cap-block having a rearwardly-projecting lug and a pair of 'sighting-notches formedat right angles to each other in its upper and rearmost edges, whereby said block may be used as a sight when said plate is turned into either vertical'or horizontal position'.

A back sight' for firearms comprising a pivoted leaf-plate having a pair y'of pivot-lugs at one side thereof, a tangent-screw rotatably mounted in said pivot-lugs and having a manually-adjustable milled head, a sighting-bar slidably mounted on said plate and having threaded connection with said screwg-a scale formed on said leaf-plate against which said sighting-bar is adapted to be adjusted in elevation, said bar having a transverse sightingnotch therein, a horizontally-adjustable windgage slidably mounted on said sighting-bar, a horizontal scale on said sighting-bar against which said wind-gage is adapted to be adjusted, and a Vernier-scale formed on said sighting-bar cooperating with said first-named scale.

4:. In a back sight for firearms, the combination of a vertically-adjustable sightingbar, a vertical tangentscrew, a cylindrical nut having threaded engagement with said tangent-screw, a perforated lug formed on said sighting-bar and embracing said tangentscrew and adapted to inclose said nut, and a set-screw adapted to clamp said sighting-bar to said nut.

5. In a back sight for firearms, the combination of an adjustable sighting-piece, a screw, a cylindrical nut mounted thereon and having a squared waist portion, a perforated lug on said sighting-piece surrounding said screw and into which said nut fits, a set-screw radially mounted in the center of said lug radial to said nut, a iiattened foot formed on said setscrew of approximately the same width as the squared portion of said nut and coacting therewith and adapted to be withdrawn into a recess formed around the base of said set-screw on the interior of said lug, and ahead formed on the outer end of said set-screw.

6. A back sight for firearms comprising a sight-bed, a leaf-plate pivoted at its rear end to said bed, said leaf-plate having its central portion cut away to form two upstanding limbs, a pair of pivot-lugs projecting from one side of the leaf-plate, a tangent-screw rotatably mounted in said lugs and having a milled head, a nut mounted on said tangent-screw, a sighting-bar mounted to slide vertically on the limbs of said leaf-plate and having a lug adapted to embrace said nut, and means for clamping said slghtmg-bar to said nut.

' 7. A back sight for firearms comprising a sight-bed', a leaf-plate pivoted at its rear end `tatably mounted in said lugs and having a milled head, a nut mounted on said tangentscrew, a sighting-bar mounted to slide vertically on the limbsof said leaf-plate' and having a lug adapted to embrace said nut, means for clamping said sighting-bar to said nut, a rough-adjustment scale formed on the faceof said leaf-plate, a line-adjustment scale formed on the edge of said leaf-plate, and a vernierscale cooperating with `saidfine-adjustment scale formed on the adjacent edge of said sighting-bar.- f

8.v A back sight for firearms comprising a sight-bed, a leaf-plate pivoted at its rearend to said bed, said leaf-plate having its central portion cut away to form two upstanding Y limbs, a pair of pivot-lugs-projecting'from one side of the leaf-plate, a tangent-screw rotatably mounted in said lugs and having a milled head, a nut mounted on said tangentscrew, a sighting-bar mounted to slide vertically on the limbs of said leaf-plate and having a lug adapted to embrace said nut, means for clamping said sighting-bar to said nut, said sighting-bar having a V-notch formed in its upper edge and a gouge formed behind said V-notch to thin the edge thereof, a windgage having overhanging iianges engaging in grooves in the upper and lower sides of said sighting-bar, and a transverse sighting-line formed on said wind-gage.

9. A back sight for firearms comprising a sight-bed, a leaf-plate pivoted at its rear end to said bed, said leaf-plate having its central portion cut away to form two upstanding limbs, a pair of pivot-lugs projecting from one side of the leaf-plate, a tangent-screw rotatably mounted in said lugs and having a milled head, a nut mounted on said tangent-screw, a sighting-bar mounted to slide vertically on the limbs of said leaf-plate and having a lug adapted to embrace said nut, means for clamping said sighting-bar to said'nut, a rough-adjustment scale formed on the face of said leafplate, a fine-adjustment scale formed on the edge of said leaf-plate, a Vernier-scale coperating with said fine-adjustment scale formed on the adjacent edge of said sighting-bar, said sighting-bar having a V-notch formed in its upper edge at the center thereof, a horizontal scale formed on said sighting-bar and having its zero-point at the center thereof, and a wind-gage having overhanging flanges engaging in grooves at the upper and lower sides of said sighting-bar so as to be horizontally adjustable thereon and having a white-metal transverse vertical sighting line extending l across `the same .on a dark background and adapted to be adjusted horizontally against said horizontal scale, substantially as described.

1'0. A leaf-sight for firearms comprising a pivoted plate having a central slot, a vertically-sliding sighting-bar transversely mounted across said slot, a vertical tangent-screw mounted at the side of said pivotedA plate, a projecting lug at one side of the said sightingbar embracing said tangent-screw, a horizontally-adjustable wind-gage mounted on said sighting-bar, and means'on said projecting lug for -securing a releasable Athreaded connection thereto of said tangent-screw.

11. A leaf-sight for iirearmsy comprising a pivoted plate having a central slot, a vertically-sliding sighting-bar transversely mounted across said slot, a vertical tangent-screw mounted at the side of said pivoted plate, a projecting lug at one side of the said sightingbar embracing said tangent-screw, a horizontally-adjustable wind-gage mounted on said sighting-bar, a threaded nut engaged with said screw, and means for 'releasably connecting said lug with said nut.

l2. A back sight 4for firearms comprising a body-piece, a ysecond piece mounted on said body-piece and vertically adjustable thereon, a scale formed on said rst piece against which said second piece is adapted to be adjusted, a tangent-screw at the side of said first piece opposite to said scale, a projecting lug on said second piece embracing said tangent-screw, means for releasably clamping said lug to said screw whereby the second piece lmay be adjusted either by the screw or by a direct movement, a third or sighting piece carrying a sighting-mark adapted to slide horizontally on said second piece, and a horizontal scale marked on said second piece against which said third piece is adapted to be set.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in lthe presence of two witnesses.

MURDOCK EVETT SUTII'ERLAND.

Witnesses:

H. S. MACKAY, ARcHiE McNErL. 

